scholarly journals The Arches cluster revisited

2018 ◽  
Vol 617 ◽  
pp. A66 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. E. Lohr ◽  
J. S. Clark ◽  
F. Najarro ◽  
L. R. Patrick ◽  
P. A. Crowther ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radial Velocity ◽  
Survey Data ◽  
Massive Stars ◽  
Primary Component ◽  
Initial Mass ◽  
Binary Interaction ◽  
Evolutionary Stage ◽  
Eccentric Orbit ◽  
X Ray ◽  
The Galaxy

We have carried out a spectroscopic variability survey of some of the most massive stars in the Arches cluster, using K-band observations obtained with SINFONI on the VLT. One target, F2, exhibits substantial changes in radial velocity (RV); in combination with new KMOS and archival SINFONI spectra, its primary component is found to undergo RV variation with a period of 10.483 ± 0.002 d and an amplitude of ~350 km s−1. A secondary RV curve is also marginally detectable. We reanalysed archival NAOS-CONICA photometric survey data in combination with our RV results to confirm this object as an eclipsing SB2 system, and the first binary identified in the Arches. We have modelled it as consisting of an 82 ± 12 M⊙ WN8–9h primary and a 60 ± 8 M⊙ O5–6 Ia+ secondary, and as having a slightly eccentric orbit, implying an evolutionary stage prior to strong binary interaction. As one of four X-ray bright Arches sources previously proposed as colliding-wind massive binaries, it may be only the first of several binaries to be discovered in this cluster, presenting potential challenges to recent models for the Arches’ age and composition. It also appears to be one of the most massive binaries detected to date; the primary’s calculated initial mass of ≳120 M⊙ would arguably make this the most massive binary known in the Galaxy.

scholarly journals Radio and X-ray Observations of the Restarted Radio Galaxy in the Galaxy Cluster CL 0838+1948

Galaxies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 108
Author(s):  
Simona Giacintucci ◽  
Tracy Clarke ◽  
Namir E. Kassim ◽  
Wendy Peters ◽  
Emil Polisensky
Keyword(s):  
Radio Source ◽  
Survey Data ◽  
Radio Galaxy ◽  
Galaxy Cluster ◽  
Gas Emission ◽  
Low Frequencies ◽  
Nuclear Activity ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Hot Gas ◽  
The Galaxy

We present VLA Low-band Ionosphere and Transient Experiment (VLITE) 338 MHz observations of the galaxy cluster CL 0838+1948. We combine the VLITE data with Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope 610 MHz observations and survey data. The central galaxy hosts a 250 kpc source whose emission is dominated by two large lobes at low frequencies. At higher frequencies, a pair of smaller lobes (∼30 kpc) is detected within the galaxy optical envelope. The observed morphology is consistent with a restarted radio galaxy. The outer lobes have a spectral index αout=1.6, indicating that they are old, whereas the inner lobes have αinn=0.6, typical for an active source. Spectral modeling confirms that the outer emission is a dying source whose nuclear activity switched off not more than 110 Myr ago. Using archival Chandra X-ray data, we compare the radio and hot gas emission. We find that the active radio source is contained within the innermost and X-ray brightest region, possibly a galactic corona. Alternatively, it could be the remnant of a larger cool core whose outer layers have been heated by the former epoch of activity that has generated the outer lobes.

High Velocity Spectroscopic Binary Orbits from Photoelectric Radial Velocities: BD+20 5152, a Possible Triple System

2010 ◽  
Vol 19 (3-4) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Sperauskas ◽  
A. Bartkevičius ◽  
R. P. Boyle ◽  
V. Deveikis
Keyword(s):  
Radial Velocity ◽  
Proper Motion ◽  
High Velocity ◽  
Triple System ◽  
Mass Velocity ◽  
Center Of Mass ◽  
Primary Component ◽  
Eccentric Orbit ◽  
Velocity Measurements ◽  
Spectroscopic Binary

AbstractThe spectroscopic orbit of a high proper motion star, BD+20 5152, is calculated from 34 CORAVEL-type radial velocity measurements. The star has a slightly eccentric orbit with a period of 5.70613 d, half-amplitude of 47.7 km/s and eccentricity of 0.049. The center-of-mass velocity of the system is -24.3 km/s. BD+20 5152 seems to be a triple system consisting of a G8 dwarf as a primary component and of two K6-M0 dwarfs as secondary and tertiary components. This model is based on the analysis of its UBVRI and JHK magnitudes. According to the SuperWASP photometry, spots on the surface of the primary are suspected. The excessive brightness in the Galex FUV and NUV magnitudes and a non-zero eccentricity suggest the age of this system to be less than 1 Gyr.

scholarly journals The Wolf–Rayet binaries of the nitrogen sequence in the Large Magellanic Cloud

2019 ◽  
Vol 627 ◽  
pp. A151 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Shenar ◽  
D. P. Sablowski ◽  
R. Hainich ◽  
H. Todt ◽  
A. F. J. Moffat ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Stellar Evolution ◽  
Massive Stars ◽  
Large Magellanic Cloud ◽  
Magellanic Cloud ◽  
Binary Interaction ◽  
Evolutionary Status ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Composite Spectra ◽  
The Impact

Context. Massive Wolf–Rayet (WR) stars dominate the radiative and mechanical energy budget of galaxies and probe a critical phase in the evolution of massive stars prior to core collapse. It is not known whether core He-burning WR stars (classical WR; cWR) form predominantly through wind stripping (w-WR) or binary stripping (b-WR). Whereas spectroscopy of WR binaries has so-far largely been avoided because of its complexity, our study focuses on the 44 WR binaries and binary candidates of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC; metallicity Z ≈ 0.5 Z⊙), which were identified on the basis of radial velocity variations, composite spectra, or high X-ray luminosities. Aims. Relying on a diverse spectroscopic database, we aim to derive the physical and orbital parameters of our targets, confronting evolution models of evolved massive stars at subsolar metallicity and constraining the impact of binary interaction in forming these stars. Methods. Spectroscopy was performed using the Potsdam Wolf–Rayet (PoWR) code and cross-correlation techniques. Disentanglement was performed using the code Spectangular or the shift-and-add algorithm. Evolutionary status was interpreted using the Binary Population and Spectral Synthesis (BPASS) code, exploring binary interaction and chemically homogeneous evolution. Results. Among our sample, 28/44 objects show composite spectra and are analyzed as such. An additional five targets show periodically moving WR primaries but no detected companions (SB1); two (BAT99 99 and 112) are potential WR + compact-object candidates owing to their high X-ray luminosities. We cannot confirm the binary nature of the remaining 11 candidates. About two-thirds of the WN components in binaries are identified as cWR, and one-third as hydrogen-burning WR stars. We establish metallicity-dependent mass-loss recipes, which broadly agree with those recently derived for single WN stars, and in which so-called WN3/O3 stars are clear outliers. We estimate that 45  ±  30% of the cWR stars in our sample have interacted with a companion via mass transfer. However, only ≈12  ±  7% of the cWR stars in our sample naively appear to have formed purely owing to stripping via a companion (12% b-WR). Assuming that apparently single WR stars truly formed as single stars, this comprises ≈4% of the whole LMC WN population, which is about ten times less than expected. No obvious differences in the properties of single and binary WN stars, whose luminosities extend down to log L ≈ 5.2 [L⊙], are apparent. With the exception of a few systems (BAT99 19, 49, and 103), the equatorial rotational velocities of the OB-type companions are moderate (veq ≲ 250 km s−1) and challenge standard formalisms of angular-momentum accretion. For most objects, chemically homogeneous evolution can be rejected for the secondary, but not for the WR progenitor. Conclusions. No obvious dichotomy in the locations of apparently single and binary WN stars on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram is apparent. According to commonly used stellar evolution models (BPASS, Geneva), most apparently single WN stars could not have formed as single stars, implying that they were stripped by an undetected companion. Otherwise, it must follow that pre-WR mass-loss/mixing (e.g., during the red supergiant phase) are strongly underestimated in standard stellar evolution models.

Accretion simulations of Eta Carinae and implications to massive binaries

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (S346) ◽  
pp. 93-97
Author(s):  
Amit Kashi
Keyword(s):  
Mass Transfer ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Massive Stars ◽  
High Mass ◽  
Eccentric Orbit ◽  
Mass Model ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Eta Carinae ◽  
Secondary Star ◽  
Hydrodynamical Simulations

AbstractUsing high resolution 3D hydrodynamical simulations we quantify the amount of mass accreted onto the secondary star of the binary system η Carinae during periastron passage on its highly eccentric orbit. The accreted mass is responsible for the spectroscopic event occurring every orbit close to periastron passage, during which many lines vary and the x-ray emission associated with the destruction wind collision structure declines. The system is mainly known for its giant eruptions that occurred in the nineteenth century. The high mass model of the system, M1=170M⊙ and M2=80M⊙, gives Macc≍ 3×10−6M⊙ compatible with the amount required for explaining the reduction in secondary ionization photons during the spectroscopic event, and also matches its observed duration. As accretion occurs now, it surely occurred during the giant eruptions. This implies that mass transfer can have a huge influence on the evolution of massive stars.

scholarly journals Why binary interaction does not necessarily dominate the formation of Wolf-Rayet stars at low metallicity

2020 ◽  
Vol 634 ◽  
pp. A79 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Shenar ◽  
A. Gilkis ◽  
J. S. Vink ◽  
H. Sana ◽  
A. A. C. Sander
Keyword(s):  
Mass Range ◽  
Magellanic Clouds ◽  
Initial Mass ◽  
Binary Interaction ◽  
Additional Contribution ◽  
Apparent Contradiction ◽  
Single Star ◽  
Binary Channel ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Low Metallicity

Context. Classical Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars are massive, hydrogen-depleted, post main-sequence stars that exhibit emission-line dominated spectra. For a given metallicity Z, stars exceeding a certain initial mass MsingleWR(Z) can reach the WR phase through intrinsic mass-loss or eruptions (single-star channel). In principle, stars of lower masses can reach the WR phase via stripping through binary interactions (binary channel). Because winds become weaker at low Z, it is commonly assumed that the binary channel dominates the formation of WR stars in environments with low metallicity such as the Small and Large Magellanic Clouds (SMC, LMC). However, the reported WR binary fractions of 30−40% in the SMC (Z = 0.002) and LMC (Z = 0.006) are comparable to that of the Galaxy (Z = 0.014), and no evidence for the dominance of the binary channel at low Z could be identified observationally. Here, we explain this apparent contradiction by considering the minimum initial mass MspecWR(Z) needed for the stripped product to appear as a WR star. Aims. By constraining MspecWR(Z) and MsingleWR(Z), we estimate the importance of binaries in forming WR stars as a function of Z. Methods. We calibrated MspecWR using the lowest-luminosity WR stars in the Magellanic Clouds and the Galaxy. A range of MsingleWR values were explored using various evolution codes. We estimated the additional contribution of the binary channel by considering the interval [MspecWR(Z), MsingleWR(Z)], which characterizes the initial-mass range in which the binary channel can form additional WR stars. Results. The WR-phenomenon ceases below luminosities of log L ≈ 4.9, 5.25, and 5.6 [L⊙] in the Galaxy, the LMC, and the SMC, respectively, which translates to minimum He-star masses of 7.5, 11, 17 M⊙ and minimum initial masses of MspecWR = 18, 23, 37 M⊙. Stripped stars with lower initial masses in the respective galaxies would tend not to appear as WR stars. The minimum mass necessary for self-stripping, MsingleWR(Z), is strongly model-dependent, but it lies in the range 20−30, 30−60, and ≳40 M⊙ for the Galaxy, LMC, and SMC, respectively. We find that that the additional contribution of the binary channel is a non-trivial and model-dependent function of Z that cannot be conclusively claimed to be monotonically increasing with decreasing Z. Conclusions. The WR spectral appearance arises from the presence of strong winds. Therefore, both MspecWR and MsingleWR increase with decreasing metallicity. Considering this, we show that one should not a-priori expect that binary interactions become increasingly important in forming WR stars at low Z, or that the WR binary fraction grows with decreasing Z.

scholarly journals Dissecting X-ray–Emitting Gas Around the Center of Our Galaxy

Science ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 341 (6149) ◽  
pp. 981-983 ◽  
Author(s):  
Q. D. Wang ◽  
M. A. Nowak ◽  
S. B. Markoff ◽  
F. K. Baganoff ◽  
S. Nayakshin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Black Holes ◽  
Massive Stars ◽  
Supermassive Black Holes ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Accretion Flow ◽  
Active Stars ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Rule Out

Most supermassive black holes (SMBHs) are accreting at very low levels and are difficult to distinguish from the galaxy centers where they reside. Our own Galaxy’s SMBH provides an instructive exception, and we present a close-up view of its quiescent x-ray emission based on 3 megaseconds of Chandra observations. Although the x-ray emission is elongated and aligns well with a surrounding disk of massive stars, we can rule out a concentration of low-mass coronally active stars as the origin of the emission on the basis of the lack of predicted iron (Fe) Kα emission. The extremely weak hydrogen (H)–like Fe Kα line further suggests the presence of an outflow from the accretion flow onto the SMBH. These results provide important constraints for models of the prevalent radiatively inefficient accretion state.

scholarly journals Obscuration properties of mid-IR-selected AGN

2019 ◽  
Vol 491 (2) ◽  
pp. 1727-1735
Author(s):  
G Mountrichas ◽  
I Georgantopoulos ◽  
A Ruiz ◽  
G Kampylis
Keyword(s):  
Primary Component ◽  
Sloan Digital Sky Survey ◽  
Spectral Energy ◽  
Wide Field ◽  
X Rays ◽  
Optical Photometry ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Flux Limit ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Single Epoch

ABSTRACT The goal of this work is to study the obscuration properties of mid-infrared (mid-IR)-selected active galactic nuclei (AGN). For that purpose, we use Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) sources in the Stripe 82–XMM area to identify mid-IR AGN candidates, applying the Assef et al. criteria. Stripe 82 has optical photometry ≈2 times deeper than any single-epoch Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) region. XMM–Newton observations cover ∼26 deg2. Applying the aforementioned criteria, 1946 IR AGN are selected. ${\sim} 78{{\, \rm per\, cent}}$ have SDSS detection, while 1/3 of them are detected in X-rays, at a flux limit of $\rm {\sim} 5 \times 10^{-15}\, erg\, s^{-1}\, cm^{-2}$. Our final sample consists of 507 IR AGN with X-ray detection and optical spectra. Applying a $r-W2 > 6$ colour criterion, we find that the fraction of optically red AGN drop from 43 per cent for those sources with SDSS detection to $23{{\, \rm per\, cent}}$ for sources that also have X-ray detection. X-ray spectral fitting reveals 40 (${\sim} 8{{\, \rm per\, cent}}$) X-ray absorbed AGN ($N_\mathrm{ H} > 10^{22}\,{\rm cm}^{-2}$). Among the X-ray unabsorbed AGN, there are 70 red systems. To further investigate the absorption of these sources, we construct spectral energy distributions (SEDs) for the total IR AGN sample. SED fitting reveals that ${\sim} 20{{\, \rm per\, cent}}$ of the optically red sources have such colours because the galaxy emission is a primary component in the optical part of the SED, even though the AGN emission is not absorbed at these wavelengths. SED fitting also confirms that $12{{\, \rm per\, cent}}$ of the X-ray unabsorbed IR AGN are optically obscured.

scholarly journals NGC 4104: A shell galaxy in a forming fossil group

2020 ◽  
Vol 641 ◽  
pp. A95 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. B. Lima Neto ◽  
F. Durret ◽  
T. F. Laganá ◽  
R. E. G. Machado ◽  
N. Martinet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Elliptical Galaxy ◽  
Optical Data ◽  
Evolutionary Stage ◽  
Stellar Envelope ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Shell System ◽  
Satellite Galaxy ◽  
Cosmological Scenario ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
System Feature

Context. Groups are the most common association of galaxies in the Universe and they are found in different configuration states, such as loose, compact, and fossil groups. Aims. We studied the galaxy group MKW 4s, dominated by the giant early-type galaxy NGC 4104 at z = 0.0282, with the aim of understanding the evolutionary stage of this group and to place it within the framework of the standard ΛCDM cosmological scenario. Methods. We obtained deep optical data with CFHT/Megacam (g and r bands) and we applied both the GALFIT 2D image fitting program and the IRAF/ELLIPSE 1D radial method to model the brightest group galaxy (BGG) and its extended stellar envelope. We also analysed the publicly available XMM-Newton and Chandra X-ray data. From N-body simulations of dry-mergers with different mass ratios of the infalling galaxy, we were able to constrain the dynamical stage of this system. Results. Our results show a stellar shell system feature in NGC 4104 and an extended envelope that was reproduced by our numerical simulations of a collision with a satellite galaxy taking place about 4−6 Gyr ago. The initial pair of galaxies had a mass ratio of at least 1:3. Taking into account the stellar envelope contribution to the total r band magnitude and the X-ray luminosity, MKW 4s falls into the category of a fossil group. Conclusions. Our results show that we are witnessing a rare case of a shell elliptical galaxy in a forming fossil group.

scholarly journals A Deep Survey for Faint Galactic Wolf-Rayet Stars

1991 ◽  
Vol 143 ◽  
pp. 591-594 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.M. Shara ◽  
M. Potter ◽  
A.F.J. Moffat ◽  
L.F. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Milky Way ◽  
Massive Stars ◽  
Mass Function ◽  
Initial Mass Function ◽  
Initial Mass ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Deep Survey ◽  
Visual Magnitude ◽  
Objective Prism

Surveys of the Galaxy for Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars are mostly based on objective prism searches, and are generally complete to only about 13th visual magnitude. We are using direct narrowband and broadband Schmidt plates to survey large areas of the southern Milky Way for WR stars to 17-18th magnitude. We expect to find more than 50 new WR stars. The newly detected stars should be among the most distant and/or reddened known in the Galaxy. The survey is also designed to test the completeness of previous bright WR star surveys, and thus to help settle debates over the Initial Mass Function of the most massive stars. We have now located 13 new WR stars in a 40 square degree region in Carina where 24 WR stars were already known. A 25% incompleteness in detection of WR stars as close as 2-3 kpc is suggested.

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